Who was Simeon in the Bible?

A "just and devout" man at Jerusalem, to whom it was revealed that he should not die until he had seen "the Lord's Christ." When the "child Jesus" was presented in the temple Simeon took Him up in his arms, blessed God and asked that he might depart in peace, for he had seen God's salvation. He was one of those that looked for redemption in Israel.

It was in such a period that Simeon lived… Despite the prevailing cold-heartedness and wickedness, Simeon continued a just man, and devout, and waited for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. There were clearly a few others of this spirit — the aged Anna was among them — too few, feeble, and poor to form a sect, whom God kept as a witness even then in Israel while they awaited the coming of His Son… doubtless they were regarded as the merest dreamers and fanatics by the few persons who took any notice of them at all.

The Jews, we are told, often wrote of their Messiah under the name of "The Menachem," or Comforter, just as Simeon here is described as waiting for the "consolation of Israel" — that is, for the Messiah.

Of Simeon we know nothing except his character as just and pious and waiting for the consolation of Israel. It was not merely for his own spiritual good: his heart longed for the blessing of the people of God, keenly feeling their condition and what alone could meet it — Who alone could bring effectual comfort.

The Holy Spirit who was upon Simeon gave to him this remarkable revelation about the coming of the long expected Messiah. But Simeon was also directed in his movements by the Holy Spirit, for it was by the Spirit he came into the temple when Jesus had been brought there by His parents, and his prophetic words, and his expression of holy delight, show the Spirit by which he spoke.

But he sees that there was in that babe One altogether above the law. In grace He might become subject to it, and His parents were, of course, right in paying every deference to its ordinances. But Simeon "received him into his arms, and blessed God, saying, Lord, now you are letting your bondman go according to your word, in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation." The law of Moses never could give a sinful man permission to depart in peace — so to speak, it never ought.

It is good when we see a man growing old like Simeon without losing the brightness and strength of hope, and to see one so filled with satisfaction when his arms clasp the Infant promise of the coming Salvation that he feels he has nothing further to live for… And he speaks of strange events to come; that this Child, who was to be the crowning glory of Israel, should be the great Light to shine into the darkness of the Gentile world. And the old man, whose outward eyes are dim, can see down through the veil of future time sorrow and disaster. Yes, and here, where we would least expect it, he turns his compassionate gaze on the gentle and patient mother, saying, "and a sword will pierce through your own soul also."